License plate holder device



A. C. DE HOFFMANN LICENSE PLATE HOLDER DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1957 3Sheets-sheaf 1 INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS 27, 1938; A. c. DE HOFFMANN 2,141,866

. LICENSE PLATE HVOLDE'R DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FIG. 5.

a 6 G 7 6 I z a 5 r W a W INVENTOR.

v ATTORNEYS.

Alexander C. def/bf/mank. BY 0 z a r QUE/ 41 m w I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\A\\\\\ v WI T/VESS Dec. 27, 1938.

A. c. DE HOFFMANN ,141,866

LICENSE PLATE HOLDER DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

Alexander C. de Hoffman/z.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

,wmm, v BY v Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITE STATES PATENT LICENSE PLATEHOLDER DEVICE Alexander 0. de Hofimann, New York, N. Y.

Application August 11, 1937, Serial No. 158,467

6 Claims. (01. 40-425) This invention relates to improvements in 11-appended claims, and are illustrated in the accense plate holders formotor vehicles and more companying drawings, in which:

particularly to a device for supporting and visibly Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of an autodisplaying a license plate and for protectingthe mobile illustrating one form of license plate holdsame againsttheft. er in use thereon.

Many crimes are committed in which auto-mo- Figure 2 is a rear elevationof the front debiles are relied upon by the culprit to effect antachable holder unit. escape from the police authorities, and it is: notFigure 3 is a perspective view of one of the uncommon for an innocentowner of an automolock devices. bile to suffer embarrassment andinconvenience Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sec- 10 byhaving his license plates stolen and used on tional View on the linel-:i of Figure an automobile involved in a crime, the substitu- Figure 5is an enlarged vertical sectional view tion of license plates beingresorted to by the 0111- On the li e 5 o Figure prit of the crime toescape by automobile without Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view onthe :3 arousing police suspicion. line 66 of Figure 5.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of Figure 7 is a horizontalsectional view on the this invention to provide a device in which anline 1-1 of Fi u e 4- automobile license plate may be locked in a Figure8 is a fragmentary perspective view of displayed position and protectedagainst unauthe rear end of the automobile showing the rear thorizedremoval by the unscrupulous license plate holder unit with parts brokenaway. 20

Another feature of the invention resides in a Figure 9 is a detailvertical sectional view on license plate holder device which holds alicense e line o Figure plate in a locked condition in a novel manner Fure 9a s a modified form of look device for which prevents unauthorizedremoval of the 1iprot ctin t r s of t ns p ate. cense plate withoutmutilation of the same, which Figure 10 is a; detail vertical sectionalView of 25 mutilated license plate could not be used upon a fu t er mfied fo m of lock device. an automobile without arousing suspicion ofthe Referring to the dra y reference C a police authorities, actors,and. at present to the form of the inven- A further object of theinvention is the provition shown in Fi 1 t 9 inclusive, the nusion of alicense plate holder within hi h a, 1i meral l0 designates the frontlicense plate holder 30 cense plate is securely locked, and. in whichthe device in its entirety mou ted o t bumper holder is connected to anautomobile in a manrac 1 I all the from of an dlltOmOhile ner to preventunauthorized removal of the holdwhile the numeral l3 designates the rearlicense er and license plate as a unit. plate holder unit supported andformed integral A further feature of the invention is the prowith thetail light housing It at the rear of the 35 vision of a theft prooflicense plate holder in automobile l2. The license plate units it andwhich key actuated locks are employed for look- I3 are identical inconstruction and only the ing the license plate to the holder, use beingmade m s by Which e S un ts a e attached. to of the usual elongatedslots in the license plate to the automobile are different, d w h means40 receive the bolts of the locks, whereby the license Will beSpecifically described te but it is: 40 plate is locked adjacent thefour corners thereof thought that a d ip o one of the license and canonly be removed without mutilation by plate holder units W111 suflicefor the other.

an authorized person havingthe proper key Each license plate holder unitincludes a fiat necessary for unlocking the locks rectangular shapedbody or supporting member I 5 of a size and shape approximating that ofthe A still further object of the invention is to 45 license plate to besupported thereby. The body provlde. hcense m hold? {mung the abgve I5is of strong rigid construction and is provided beneficialcharacteristics WhlCh is simple and inadjacent its fbur Corners with 81Ongate d horizom expenslve of ,constmcmo'n and,stmng and tally disposedslots it, which slots register with able for the me of an automoblle'similar slots ll provided in the automobile license 50 With these andother oblects In View, the plate l8, which plate fits against the frontside vention resides in the certain novel construction, f the supportingmember 0r body 5 combination and arrangement of parts, the es Forlocking the license plate l8 against the sential features of which arehereinafter fully front side of the body l5 adjacent the fourcordescribed, are particularly p inted out in the ners of the body andthe license plate, I provide 55 removable lock units I9. The lock unitsI9 are of identical construction and a description of one will sufiicefor the others.

Each lock unit I9 includes a kidney shaped strong rigid body 26 which isprovided with a pocket or recess 2| which opens along three sides of thebody to enable the body to be inserted over the edge of the holder bodyI5 and license plate I8. Although I have mentioned the body 29 as beingof substantially kidney shape, the same may be said to be U-shaped, ormay be of any other shape provided it is formed with the pocket 2| andsufficient thickness to support the lock mechanism to be described. Theside walls of the pocket 2| are straight and parallel and set therein toproject inwardly beyond the planes of the walls are yieldable rubbercushion strips 22, there also being a similar strip 23 mounted in theclosed end wall of the pocket 2| for yieldably engaging the edge of theholder plate I5 as best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Thecushion strips 22 and 23 yieldably engage the license plate I8 and theholder plate I5 to prevent rattle of the body 2!], license plate I8, andholder body I5 relative to each other.

Mounted in the body 26 to one side of the pocket 2| is a key actuatedlock 24 including a barrel 25 and the usual rotatable key actuated shaft26.

The axis of the lock 24 is parallel to the length of the pocket 2| withthe key receiving slot 21 of the lock disposed at one end of the body29. The lock 24 may be mounted in the body 29 in any suitable manner,but preferably by some hidden means to prevent its easy removal, such asfor instance by the split locking ring 21 shown in Figure 6 of thedrawings. The turntable shaft 25 extends into a recess 28 provided inthe body 29 and has fixed thereto, a disk 29 provided with an outwardlyextending eccentric pin' 30. The pin 30 freely extends into an elongatedslot or yoke 3| provided at the inner end of a sliding bolt 32, the saidbolt when in locking position, passing through the registering slots I6and H in the holder body l5 and license plate I8, respectively, and isreceived in a keeper recess 33 provided in that wall of the pocket 2|opposite from that in which the bolt extends. It will be seen that byinserting the proper key into the key hole slot 21 of the lock 24,'theshaft 26 may be turned to move the bolt 32 to either an extended orretracted position by reason of the eccentric connection between thedisk 29 and the tail endof the bolt 32. By reference to Figure 6, itwill be noted that the bolt 32 is substantially T-shaped, and the headenters a cavity 34 in the body 29 when in retracted position, suchposition being shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that when the licenseplate I8 is locked adjacent the four corners to the supporting plate I5,any attempt at the removal of the license plate by an unauthorizedperson will be frustrated, for it will be necessary for an unauthorizedperson to break the locks of the four lock units I9. However, the ownerof the automobile or an authorized person having the proper key mayreadily unlock the lock units I9 and remove the license plate I8 forreplacement or for any other purposes.

As previously mentioned the holder units Ill and I3 although ofidentical construction, are attached to the automobile by differentattaching means. The holder unit III is detachably connected to thebracket I of the front bumper, but is so fastened to preventunauthorized removal of the holder unit. The body I5 of the holder unitI is provided with a depending arm 35, the lower end of which terminatesin a resilient clamp 36, which clamp includes a resilient separable part31 having an upstanding terminal tail piece 38. The inner walls of theclamp 36 are lined with a rubber cushion 39 which surrounds the bumperbracket II as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The bottom of theclamp 36 being resilient, it will be seen that by pulling outwardly uponthe tail piece 33, the jaws of the clamp may be separated for theattachment and removal of the holder unit to the bumper bracket I I, butfor preventing unauthorized opening of the clamp, I provide a keyactuated lock 40 supported by the tail piece 38. The rotating barrel ofthe lock 49 has a T-shaped lock bolt 4| connected thereto, the said boltbeing normally in a horizontal position when unlocked to enter aT-shaped keeper recess 42 and after entering the recess 42, the bolt 4|is turned from a horizontal position to a vertical position to lockbehind the walls of the recess 42. The key that controls the opening ofthe lock 24 of the lock units I9 may be the same as that necessary toactuate the bolt 4| of the lock 40.

The holder unit I3 as before mentioned is supported by the tail lighthousing I4 of the automobile and is mounted thereon by forming anangular arm 43 integral with the supporting body I and the lamp housingI4. Thus, any attempt to remove the rear holder unit I3 is prevented forit becomes necessary to break the bracket arm 43 to remove the unit fromthe vehicle.

In Figure 9a of the drawings, a slightly modified form of lock unit isshown, and these units are designated by the numeral 44. Each unit 44includes the usual recess 45 for receiving the license plate and theholder body, the walls of the recesss being at right angles to overliethe corners of the license plate and the holder body to prevent theinsertion of an instrument therebetween. It is not believed necessary togo into the specific construction of the lock mechanism embodied in thelock units 44 for they are otherwise identical to the lock units I9hereinbefore described.

In Figure of the drawings, a furhter modifled form of lock unit isillustrated and includes a substantially kidney shaped body 46 having aplate receiving pocket or recess 41 opening onto three sides thereof.Set in the walls of the pocket 41 are resilient cushion strips 48 forresilient engagement with the supporting body I5 and the license plateI8. The rotating barrel of the key actuated lock is provided with asquare extension shaft 49 which extends into a recess 5|! and has fixedthereto, a gear wheel 5|. The gear wheel 5| meshes with the teeth 52 onthe convex side of an arcuate shaped lock bolt 53, the said bolt beingretractible into a recess 54 in the body 46 and when extended, the saidbolt passes through the registering openings I6 and I! in the holderbody I5 and license plate I8 respectively. When in extended position,the outer end of the lock bolt 53 enters a keeper recess 55 in the body46.

Whereas I have illustrated several forms of my invention, it will benoted that in all instances, the license plate is securely locked in theholder by bolts which pass through the openings in the license platewhich necessitates retraction of the bolts before the license plate canbe removed. Should an unauthorized person be successful in breaking thelocks, the license plate undoubtedly would become mutilated and arousesuspicion of '75 the police authorities should the mutilated plates beused upon an automobile involved in a crime, and in which the occupantsthereof may be seeking an escape.

Although I have shown several forms of my invention, I wish it to beunderstood that further modification may be resorted to if desiredwithout in any way departing from the spirit of the invention, or thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, an automobile license plate of rectangularconfiguration having openings therein adjacent each corner thereof, afiat supporting member of a shape and size approximating that of saidlicense plate, and adapted to be securely attached to an automobile andagainst which the rear side of said license plate fits, said supportingmember having openings therein registering with the openings in saidlicense plate, and individual lock units located adjacent the corners ofsaid license plate and supporting member including bolts passing throughthe registering openings in said license plate and supporting member tolock the same together.

2. In combination, an automobile license plate of rectangularconfiguration having openings therein adjacent each corner thereof, aflat holder member of a size and shape approximating that of saidlicense plate and against which the rear side of said license platefits, said holder member having openings therein registering with theopenings in said license plate, and individual lock units locatedadjacent the corners of said license plate and supporting member andfitting over the edges thereof, each of said lock units including a bodyhaving a pocket therein receiving the edge of said license plate andsaid holder member, a key actuated lock mechanism mounted in said bodyincluding a bolt passing through the registering openings from one wallof said pocket to the other wall thereof.

3. In combination, an automobile license plate of rectangularconfiguration having openings therein adjacent the corners thereof, afiat holder member of a size and shape approximating that of saidlicense plate and against which the rear side of said license platefits, said holder member having openings therein registering with theopenings in said license plate, and individual lock units locatedadjacent the corners of said license plate and holder member and fittingover the edges thereof, each of said lock units including a body havinga pocket therein receiving the edges of said license plate and saidholder member, cushioning means between the walls of said pocket andsaid license plate and holder member, and a key actuated lock mechanismincluding a bolt passing through the registering openings from one wallof said pocket to the other wall thereof.

4. In combination, an automobile license plate of rectangularconfiguration having openings therein adjacent each corner thereof, afiat holder member of a size and shape approximating that of saidlicense plate and against which the rear s.'de of said license platefits, said holder member having openings therein registering with theopenings in said license plate, individual rigid clip-like membersincluding an angular recessed body fitting about the corner edges ofsaid license plate and holder member, and key actuated lock mechanismcarried by said clip-like members, each lock mechanism including a lockbolt movable through the registering openings when in extended positionand clear of the same when in retracted position.

5. In combination, an automobile license plate, a fixed flat supportingmember having registering openings adjacent an edge thereof, a lockdevice including a body having a bifurcation therein receiving the edgesof said license plate and holder member, yieldable cushion elementscarried by the walls of said bifurcation and in bearing engagement withsaid license plate and holder member, a bolt slidably mounted in saidbody and extendable through one of the side walls of said bifurcationand through said registering openings to bridge the said bifurcation,and key actuated means in said body for sliding said bolt to extended orretracted position.

6. In combination, an automobile license plate, a fixed fiat holdermember, a lock device including a bifurcated body fitting over the edgesof said license plate and holder member, yieldable cushion means carriedby and extending beyond the inner walls of said bifurcated body inbearing engagement with the edges and outer sides of said license plateand holder member, and lock means carried by said body for locking saidlicense plate and holder member together.

ALEXANDER. C. DE I-IOFFMANN.

